1125 China

1125 China (1957 UN₁) is a main belt asteroid orbiting the Sun. It makes a revolution around the Sun once every 5 years. It was discovered in Purple Mountain Observatory, Nanking, on October 30, 1957.^[1] It was named for the country in which it was discovered; however, its name and number were actually taken from another asteroid that was considered a lost asteroid at the time, but was eventually recovered and given the new designation 3789 Zhongguo (1928 UF). What is now known as the 1125 had a provisional designation was 1957 UN₁.^[2]

First 1125 China

While studying in Chicago in 1928, Zhang Yuzhe discovered an asteroid that was given the provisional designation 1928 UF, and later the number 1125. He named it "China" or "中華" (Zhōnghuá). However, this asteroid was not observed beyond its initial appearance and a precise orbit could not be calculated. In 1957, the Purple Mountain Observatory in China discovered a new asteroid, and with Zhang Yuzhe's agreement the new object 1957 UN₁ was re-assigned the official designation 1125 China in place of the lost 1928 UF. However, in 1986, the newly discovered object 1986 QK₁ was confirmed to be a rediscovery of the original 1928 UF, and this object was named 3789 Zhongguo. Zhongguo is the Chinese word for China.^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "JPL Small-Body Database Browser". http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=1125. Retrieved October 17, 2007. 
2. ^ Schmadel, Lutz D. (2003). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer. ISBN 3-540-00238-3. 
3. ^ Schmadel 2003, p. 320